Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

The World Heavyweight Championship – exposing Ukraine hypocrisy

  • Gavin O'Reilly Gavin O'Reilly
  • Source: Al Mayadeen
  • 1 Apr 2022 23:48
  • 11 Shares
4 Min Read

The double standards of the Western world between Yemen and Ukraine scenarios go beyond political narratives and are reflected in the boycott of Russian athletes and sports events.

  • x
  • The World Heavyweight Championship – exposing Ukraine hypocrisy
    The wrestlers "have all bravely returned" to Ukraine to face off against the forces of a Hitler-esque Vladimir Putin

In the mainstream media’s ongoing coverage of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine, much attention has been paid to the numerous high-profile Ukrainian Boxers who have returned to the Eastern European country to serve as military reservists for Kiev.

Former three-weight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, current unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, and former world heavyweight champion brothers, Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko – current Mayor of Kiev and instrumental in the Euromaidan colour revolution protests – have all featured heavily in western media reports, the clear message being portrayed that despite their immense wealth and fame, they have all bravely returned to Ukraine to face off against the forces of a Hitler-esque Vladimir Putin.

This coverage also comes amidst the widespread blacklisting of Russia in the sporting world following last months’ launching of the current military operation, with FIFA suspending Russia from the upcoming World Cup, all world title Boxing bouts being suspended in Russia, and Formula One canceling the 2022 Russian Grand Prix.

Therefore, Monday’s announcement that Oleksandr Usyk would face Britain’s Anthony Joshua in a lucrative rematch in Saudi Arabia, having defeated the Englishman on points in front of a 65,000+ crowd at London’s Tottenham Hotspur stadium last September, demonstrates the glaring hypocrisy of the western establishment - with Riyadh having led a seven-year-long war on neighbouring Yemen, one that has led to mass starvation and the estimated deaths of 85,000 children.

To understand this widely differing approach to both Russia and Saudi Arabia by the sporting world, the wider geopolitical and financial factors at play in the West’s relationship with Moscow and Riyadh must be brought into play.

Related News

Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

Russia in Africa: Strategic Realignment and Open Embracement

The world’s largest exporter of oil, Saudi Arabia also serves a key role in maintaining US-NATO hegemony in the Middle East by acting as a political and military bulwark against Iran, with Tehran having been a former key-western ally until the 1979 Islamic Revolution saw the US and UK-backed Shah Pahlavi overthrown and replaced with the anti-Western and anti-Zionist Ayatollah Khomeini. 

In March 2015, following the takeover of the Yemeni capital Sana’a by the Houthi rebels - long accused of being backed by Tehran - a Saudi air campaign would begin in order to restore Riyadh’s favoured Presidential candidate, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, to power.

Using US and British-supplied bombs, and with military advisors from both countries on hand to assist in the selection of targets, the Royal Saudi Air Force would go on to target the agricultural, sanitation, and medical infrastructure of Yemen, leading to mass-starvation and the largest recorded Cholera outbreak in history, a situation exacerbated even further by a Saudi blockade preventing food and medical supplies from entering the country – one that still remains in place despite Riyadh’s ceasefire announcement on Tuesday.

Despite this seven-year-long onslaught receiving minuscule coverage by the corporate media, the global condemnation of Saudi Arabia following the October 2018 murder and dismemberment of Saudi-dissident Jamal Khashoggi, would result in Riyadh pursuing a campaign of ‘sports washing’ – a tactic in which high-profile sporting and media events are held in the Gulf Kingdom in order to sanitise its image worldwide.

Indeed this was highlighted only last Friday when a missile strike led by the Yemeni armed forces against a key oil refinery in Jeddah brought the hosting of the Formula One Saudi Grand Prix into question, the race track being a mere ten miles from the site of the explosion.

Usyk’s upcoming opponent, former unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, also fought another lucrative rematch against American Andy Ruiz. Jr in the Saudi town of Diriyah in December 2019, the most high-profile Boxing match held in the desert kingdom to date.

However when it comes to Russia, having launched the current Ukraine operation in response to almost nine years of Western provocations following the 2014 Euromaidan colour revolution, including the production of bio-weapons on its borders, no such opportunity is presented to hold prestigious sporting events - unlike Saudi Arabia, allowed to host the upcoming world heavyweight championship despite being responsible for a seven year long genocide in Yemen.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Al Mayadeen’s editorial stance.
  • Russia
  • Yemen
  • Kiev
  • Ukraine
  • Saudi Arabia
Gavin O'Reilly

Gavin O'Reilly

Irish Republican activist

Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

All
How is it that the Western regimes, which claimed to support the fake revolutions of Lebanon, Libya, and Syria, waged constant war against the actual Ansar Allah-led revolution in Yemen? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Understanding Yemen 1/2: The Revolution

  • Opinion
  • 30 Jun 2025
Why Netanyahu is on the ropes

Why Netanyahu is on the ropes

  • Analysis
  • 4 Jul 2025
Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

  • Analysis
  • 11 Jul 2025
Africa’s top university’s ‘Gaza Resolutions’ outrages pro-'Israel' lobby

Africa’s top university’s ‘Gaza Resolutions’ outrages pro-'Israel' lobby

  • Analysis
  • 4 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
War on Iran

More from this writer

All
Despite the geographical distance between Ireland and Palestine, a natural affinity rooted in history developed between both countries. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

'Israel’s' embassy closure in Dublin and the interlinked history between Ireland and Palestine

Pearl Harbor: Gulf Edition – coming soon?

Pearl Harbor: Gulf Edition – coming soon?

Ireland's 'hate speech' laws – censoring Ukraine truth?

Ireland's 'hate speech' laws – censoring Ukraine truth?

China and Honduras; coup attempt on the way again?

China and Honduras; coup attempt on the way again?

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS